Method for establishing licensor changeable limits on software usage

摘要

A system and method for establishing licensor changeable limits on shared software usage without the licensor having access to the system on which the shared software is running. An encrypted numerical limit value is embedded in the licensed software (program); when the program is executed ("accessed"), as a first step, the program decrypts the limit value (204) and compares it to the number of users currently accessing the shared program (210). If the number of users is less than the limit, then access is allowed (214). If the number of users is equal to (or greater than) the limit, then access is denied (212).